Like Cliff Richard, Shakin Stevens and Mr Blobby, Bobby Manc now joins the list of Christmas number ones with an awesome display of dominance at the Etihad yesterday. Undefeated for all of the calender year of 2011 Manchester City knew that a draw or win against a plucky Stoke side would ensure that record stay intact and also secure the top spot for Christmas. That said, it is only Christmas and the teams in Premiership history that have led at Christmas and gone on to win the whole thing stands at only eight from nineteen season. United have managed it four times, Chelsea three and Blackburn back in the 1994/95 season also did it. The Blackburn season is interesting as United were exactly two points behind the leaders on 41 points going into the Christmas and although they had played two more games back then (as the Premiership consisted of 22 teams) it is similar to the current points tally between first and second this time around.
Whatever happens from now on City fans have been witness to record breaking of a scale not seen in the Premiership, fastest to 50 goals, undefeated at home in the year of 2011 and a six one assault on United in their own back yard to name just a few.
Back to the game last night and after a minutes applause for all the associated people to City who died during the year it was straight into attack mode and it really didn’t let up for the whole 90 minutes. City were playing great football but with Stoke defending with everyone behind the ball space was at a premium. In another sign of change at City the fans never once got frustrated even though and despite possession and pressure it was half an hour before City got off the mark. Fans now seem to be that City will score and will score more than once and are for once enjoying watching their team knock the ball around and patiently await an opening.
It was good work from Silva and Nasri before the former gives to Toure who squares for Kompany. Not sure what Kompany is doing that far up the pitch and especially in the oppositions six yard box but that’s how dominant City were with possession and it wasn’t just Micah and Clichy overlapping to get forward. Kompanys shot was parried by Sorensen and Aguero was on hand to turn in the ball. Stoke protested for offside but the goal stood. However as the ball was released from Kompanys foot he was level. It was the parry from Sorensen that gave the illusion of the Argentine being offside.
Adam Johnson, who has been out more than in the team lately made his first start for a while and it was him that doubled City’s lead with a rifle of a shot only seven minutes later. Stoke City actually did well to clear from David Silva. Well when I said they did well, I mean they pushed Merlin off the ball in the penalty area and then hoofed it clear) but City have class all over the pitch and when it came to Johnson there was only one thing on his mind and he unleashed a wonderful strike from 25 yards out.
City were 2-0 up and coasting to victory and top spot. The fact that Tony Pulis made no substitutions at the half either meant he was out of ideas, out of options or just realized they were out of the game. Nine minutes into the second half the final nail in Stokes coffin was hammered in. A ball from Barry found Nasri in space on the right side of the box. He passed across to Aguero who didn’t miss from six yards out.
From that point on it was a case of City getting some passing practice in, all to easy and although not all other Premiership games will be this easy it certainly will put fear into sides who play us. Almost two thirds possession and the only reason it wasn’t is because Stoke have to wipe down the ball every time they have a throw! Sixteen shots on target and four off for City as opposed to the zero shots on target from the visitors. The only thing they beat us on all game was fouls committed but that happens when you chase shadows at the Etihad!
Written By: PA Cityboy(www.facebook.com/pacityboy)
No comments:
Post a Comment